Ros Casares, UMMC Work On Rosters

Ros Casares and UMMC Ekaterinburg have been two giants in the EuroLeague Women for several years now and there is no doubt that both will be forces in 2012-13.

One of the most important players in the Spanish club's title run this season, Jana Vesela, has signed on for another season with Ros.

The Czech international, who moved to Valencia before the 2008-09 campaign, made the announcement about her new deal at a national team press conference.

Vesela underlined her value to the team on numerous occasions this season but her finest hour was undoubtedly at the EuroLeague Women Final Eight when Ros Casares were struggling in their second game against Sparta&K Moscow Region.

The 1.94m forward had eight points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in the 77-66 Ros Casares victory.

UMMC Ekaterinburg, meanwhile, will have a star-studded line-up again and that includes a pair of former FIBA Europe Women Player of the Year winners who will be coming off serious knee injuries.

Latvia's Anete Jekabsone tore her left ACL on 25 January during a game with Ros Casares and was lost for the season.

Ekaterinburg then suffered another terrible blow when Maria Stepanova tore her ACL at the EuroLeague Women Final Eight.

Both have signed extensions with the team.

"The club trusts me and values me," Jekabsone, a shooting guard, said.

"And that`s why I want to come back and I want to do everything I can to help."

Ekaterinburg had their share of injuries because they also lost Sue Bird, the starting point guard, for their most important game of the season.

Shortly before the start of the EuroLeague Women Final Eight, in the warm-up before their first game against Ros Casares, Bird broke her nose.

She missed the entire contest, but did return for the rest of the Final Eight and played with a face-mask.